Issue 02
A very warm welcome to our Winter Term newsletter, where you will find lots of information about what has been going on in our school over the last few weeks. We have had a very busy term so far and I am delighted to see so many articles celebrating the impressive achievements of our young people. I am also proud to be reminded of the many visitors we have welcomed who have provided interesting, engaging and informative support to our pupils, who, as always, are enthusiastic and positive about our school community. Finally, I would like to congratulate our pupils who are preparing for examinations this summer. They have really stepped up and are rising to the challenge of the hard work and revision that is needed to achieve the success they so deserve. Many thanks to our dedicated team of teachers and support staff who are going the extra mile to support our pupils as the examinations fast approach.
Pob lwc, pawb.
Pennaeth | Headteacher
Our 2022 GCSE Art students have created some incredible artwork covering a wide range of subjects showcasing a diversity of styles and techniques. We are incredibly proud of our students and their achievements. Their hard work and dedication to their craft are truly inspiring, and we are excited to see where their artistic journeys take them in the future. The level of skill and creativity demonstrated by these young artists is a testament to their passion and commitment to the arts.
Heolddu's future chefs have been demonstrating their culinary skills with their Friday Fakeaway sessions! Year 8 students have shown us all how to produce tasty, wholesome, and healthy foods that rival any Friday night takeaway.
Not only have our students been whipping up delicious meals, but they have also been learning important skills such as cooking, preparing, and storing food safely. We're incredibly proud of their dedication and hard work.
We want to say a huge "Da iawn, pawb!" to our talented young chefs. Keep up the fantastic work and keep inspiring us all with your amazing culinary creations!
This term has been a busy one for both our pupils and Senedd members. In November, we raised an impressive £625 for Children in Need, and in December, we held our annual Heolddu Christmas Fayre, which was a fantastic afternoon filled with festive fun.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all the pupils and staff who helped support the stalls, enabling us to raise a whopping £300. It's heartening to see our school community coming together and working hard to make a difference. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to making these events a success.
Our Year 7 Senedd members held a cake sale last week to raise awareness for ABW 2023. The students wanted to do something to promote awareness of this important event, and their cake sale was a resounding success, selling out in record time. The Senedd members have generously requested that the funds raised from the cake sale be donated to the Turkey/Syria Earthquake charity. We are grateful to all who supported this cause and helped to make this fundraiser a success. Thank you to our Year 7 Senedd members for their hard work and dedication in organizing this event.
Our Year 7 pupils have been taking the initiative to take care of their mental well-being by connecting with one another and discussing their feelings. During lunchtime, they have been enjoying colouring and chatting with friends. It's fantastic to see our students coming together and creating a supportive and welcoming environment for one another. We would also like to extend a special thank you to Miss Price for providing sweets to our students during their lunchtime activity.
Two of our Year 11 Senedd members, Charley and Lynx, attended a Youth Forum meeting with other schools in Caerphilly. They participated in discussions on various topics related to mental health and wellbeing, and returned with a Mental Health and Wellbeing Booklet, which they shared with our pastoral leads.
The booklet is an excellent resource that provides valuable information and guidance on how to take care of one's mental health, especially during these unprecedented times. We are grateful to Charley and Lynx for their dedication and efforts in promoting mental health and wellbeing among our students. Thank you both for bringing back such a useful resource for our school community.
Place2Be is a leading children's mental health charity with over 25 years of experience supporting pupils, families, and staff in UK schools. The organization offers a range of services to help improve mental health and well-being in schools, including one-to-one and group counselling sessions that use tried and tested methods backed by research.
In addition to counselling, Place2Be also provides expert training and professional qualifications for school staff, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to better support their students. By providing comprehensive mental health support in schools, Place2Be is helping to improve outcomes for young people and create a more positive and nurturing learning environment for all.
To learn more, click the button below.
This is an exciting time in Welsh education, as schools begin to implement their plans for a new and exciting curriculum. Our vision of a curriculum that reflects our pupils, our community and our values - a Curriculum for Heolddu - is now being implemented in Year 7. You only need a quick look through this newsletter to see the impact this is having; the children are having an incredible experience across the curriculum! In October, we hosted a curriculum training event that bought together colleagues from Heolddu, our cluster primary schools and the Education Achievement Service. It's important that we work closely with our primary colleagues to sequence pupils' learning throughout their schooling, so that they leave us with a broad and rich knowledge of the world.
We're incredibly proud that our excellent work around professional learning for teachers has been recognised by the Education Achievement Service and that the school now operates as a Professional Learning Lead School. This means that school leaders and teachers from across South East Wales visit our school to receive training and support to develop teaching, learning and leadership in their own organisations. Since September 2022, over 240 colleagues, representing almost 100 schools from our region have been trained by our team here at Heolddu.
We're also delighted to work as an ITE Lead School for Cardiff Metropolitan University. In this role, we lead on school-based practice and school-let training for new teachers joining the profession. This is a highly prestigious status to hold and we are very lucky to have such an expert and experienced staff that help to ensure the best possible entry into the profession for these teachers. Of course, our biggest thanks go to your children, who make the new teachers feel so welcome and valued during their time with us!
One of the reasons why our school has drawn so much attention from others in the region is the success that we've had in developing our own teachers. Our children are lucky to have teachers who are so dedicated and committed to developing and improving their own practice. At Heolddu, we constantly seek to improve what we do - not because we think that it's not good enough, but because we know that it can be even better! A great example of this can be seen through our commitment to teacher-coaching: every teacher at Heolddu receives 32 weeks of either one-to-one or team-based coaching every year to ensure that our pupils get the very best teaching and learning experiences every lesson, every day.
Bargoed Library kindly invited two classes from Year 7 to the library for a workshop with the children’s author and former Children’s Laureate Wales, Eloise Williams. We spent the morning hearing about what inspired her writing, listening to excerpts from her novels, and participating in a Q&A session. It was a fantastic morning, and the pupils were all lucky enough to receive a signed postcard from Eloise as well! Many thanks to Mrs Wilkinson, Miss Jones, Mr Stone, and the PGCE students for supporting this session.
Matt Oldfield joined us in December for a day of writing workshops centred around sport and the importance of resilience. A variety of pupils from KS3 worked on creating a story that focused on a time they experienced a setback or demonstrated resilience. We heard some fantastic stories of courage and determination, and pupils enjoyed listening to Matt read extracts from his books on sporting legends such as Salah, Bale, and Ronaldo. Matt's books were also available for purchase, and he even signed them with a personalized message. What a day!
To celebrate all the hard work and effort we have seen within our English lessons so far this year, Team English nominated two pupils from each class to join them for a Grinch-themed Christmas breakfast. The pupils enjoyed a breakfast buffet, songs, and games. So much fun was had that we are certain even the Grinch's heart would have melted a little!
Our Year 7 students are making great progress in their gymnastic skills thanks to the amazing sessions provided by Valleys Gymnastics and Sport Caerphilly. The coaches' dedication and hard work, along with their evident passion and expertise, have made the flexibility sessions a huge hit. We are grateful for their contribution and excited to continue our partnership. Thank you, Valleys Gymnastics and Sport Caerphilly!
Our Basketball club is back and ready to go! Starting at 2:40, sessions will be held weekly on Mondays from 2:40 pm until 3:40 pm. All skill levels and ages are welcome, so come improve your skills, make new friends, and enjoy a fun and healthy activity. Our experienced coach will lead the sessions, so bring your sneakers and join us for some hoops! Don't miss out on this great opportunity to stay active and have fun.
Libby Powell (9DE) and Cassie McLaughlan (8PV) were awarded 'player of the match' in their netball games this weekend. Their exceptional skills and efforts on the court have paid off, and we couldn't be happier to see them succeed. Congratulations to both of them, and we look forward to their continued success. Stay tuned for more updates and show your support for our amazing players.
8:2 cricket team had an excellent lesson preparing them for the U13's cricket tournament. Thanks to Rebecca Thomas at Cricket Wales for their support. We're excited to see our young athletes shine on the pitch. Stay tuned for more updates.
Lili made an incredible comeback at the Welsh Karate League competition in Neath, bringing home a bronze medal after three years off the circuit. Her success is a testament to her hard work and dedication to the sport, and her achievement is an inspiration to all. Congratulations, Lili, on this outstanding achievement, and we look forward to seeing more success in your future!
What a week for Ellie! After her amazing performance for Glamorgan Valleys in North Wales at the end of January, she was scouted and asked to join the Wales netball regional academy squad. We are all ecstatic! Well done, Ellie!
Huge congratulations to year 11 Heolddu on a fantastic performance! Their last school game ended in style, with the MOTM Morgan Cusack scoring all 20 points to secure a narrow 20-17 win against a talented @MrRichardsLSP team. Da iawn pawb!
As part of our commitment to providing a well-rounded education, we offer a range of extra-curricular activities throughout the week. We also provide an additional free school bus at 3:45 pm, stopping in each of the communities where the normal buses run.
On Mondays, we have something for everyone, with Squash, Basketball, Girls' Football, Skateboarding, and Homework Club all on offer.
Tuesdays are just as packed, with Buddy Club, Maths, Craft Club, Science Homework, Design, Netball, Rugby, Minecraft Club, and English Literature.
Wednesdays offer the chance to improve your French skills, or get creative with Drama, before Homework Club, Rugby, and Geography.
Thursdays continue the linguistic theme with French for years 12-13, along with Maths, and a range of fun activities including LGBTQ+ Club, Badminton, Dance, Football, Squash, and English Literature.
Finally, on Fridays, we offer Homework Club for all students to catch up on any work missed during the week.
We hope that there is something here that interests everyone, and we encourage you to get involved and make the most of what we have to offer. If you have any questions about any of these activities, please do not hesitate to ask. Activities are subject to change, please visit our website to view the latest programme.
On the 24th of November last year, we held the Annual Awards Evening to celebrate the academic achievements of our pupils throughout the 2021-2022 academic year. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the pupils who received awards for their hard work and dedication.
The event was made even more special by the presence of Hefin David as our special guest and keynote speaker. Mr David's words of encouragement were greatly appreciated by all who attended. It was a wonderful evening that showcased the incredible talent and determination of our students, and we look forward to celebrating their continued successes in the future.
Product Design: Faith Easthope
Business Studies: Emily Morgan
English: Mia Stevens
Mathematics: Joshua Mulligan
Welsh Baccalaureate: Layla Kerr & Adam Ganderton
Sports Studies: Chloe Ellaway
Art: Faith Easthope
Health and Social Care: Jessica Chatfield
ICT: Layla Kerr
Business Studies: Caitlyn Allison
Art: Ellie-Marie Osborne
English: Ieaun Jayne
French: Millie Smith
History: Josh Loxton
Geography: Josh Loxton
Food & Nutrition: Ellie Gilbert
Product Design: Abigail Davies
Health: Emma Philpott
Performing Arts: Alannah Harris
Mathematics: Harvey Jones
Sport: Emilia Penfold
Welsh Baccalaureate: Alice Jenkins
Sweet: Antony Berry
Welsh: Alice Jenkins
Science: Harvey Jones
7PPH: Corey Jones - Excellent work ethic and presentation
7PV: Amy Chard-Downs - Positive outlook and effort
7RB: Alfie Muggleton - Positive attitude and effort
7RF: Lucas Tamcken - Positive attitude and helpfulness
7MC: Lexie Spearman - Positive behaviour and effort, always displaying all learner values
7ZP: Shaynie Hancock - Positive behaviour, effort, attendance, caring and kind, helpful and happy!
8LW: Jayden Williams - All learner values, positive, courteous, and succeeding through effort
8SP: Kayden Beecham - All learner values, especially being positive and succeeding through effort
8CR: Harriet Wilson - All learner values, especially being positive and resilient
8MW: Freya Perry - Demonstrating all learner values, outstanding contributions to all aspects of school life
8DE: Ieuan Cooper - Demonstrating all learner values, kind and caring nature
9NW: Eva Rose Wayte - Excellent ATL and positive contributions in morning registration sessions
9TE: Thomas Davies - Demonstrating all learner values, always giving his best effort in lessons
9KM: Maddison Gladwyn - Always has a positive can-do attitude and a resilient approach to school life
9DN: Sameer - Literally lights up the school with his positivity and willingness to always give his very best effort
9LR: Corey-Leigh Breakspear - Working well and being a positive role model to others
10RT: Aaron Johns - 100% attendance and always demonstrating the learner values
10JM: Emily Powell - Punctual and ready to learn, always the first to greet me in the morning
10CB: Kacey-Jo Cross - An extremely polite young lady, who never fails to follow rules and expectations. A resilient learner who always strives for success
10HS: Hadi Al Sabea - Always has such a positive attitude and immense respect for his teachers and friends.
Ieuan Jayne worked tirelessly through the pandemic and adapted extremely well to integrating back into school resulting in excellent GCSE grades.
Kacey Jo Cross is a quiet pupil whose gentle nature can sometimes disguise a steely determination. Kacey gives 100% to all aspects of school life.
For all their work within the school (breakfast activity club) and for attending St Gwladys to support them in their well-being week.
Tanisha Price for an outstanding Unit 2 Solo Performance in front of the school.
Seren Traylor for her outstanding attitude to learning in art. She has shown a consistent, dedicated effort, always endeavouring to create artwork to an excellent standard. She has the ability to take advice in a cheerful and positive manner. Seren has worked above and beyond, showing great joy in the subject.
Freya Perry had to move rugby teams due to her age and not being able to continue playing with her male teammates. She moved to a new club in Cardiff and is continuing to make excellent progress. She is also an outstanding netball player and regularly achieves player of the match.
Harvey Jones had the highest academic achievement.
Jake Morris, Futsal cap and boys clubs of Wales international.
Ieuan Jayne is a student who has always displayed a passion for history. He has an exceptional work ethic and dedication to his studies, resulting in a well-deserved result of the highest order.
Alaa AlSmail is an extremely conscientious young lady who always produces work to the highest standard in both Welsh and French. She is an absolute pleasure to teach and a role model to all.
Faith Easthope (Year 13) is an outstanding young lady who worked with consistent dedication throughout the course. She is an absolute role model to all and earned a well-deserved A*.
Harvey Jones showed resilience and dedication through the manufacturing stages of his project. This, coupled with detailed craft skills, resulted in Harvey completing a unique design to a professional standard.
Julian Tang is an extremely dedicated and talented scientist who consistently completes additional work in her own time, including work at key stage 4 level.
Alice Jenkins worked tirelessly all year to achieve the highest grade overall in Science. She is now continuing her scientific pursuits by studying A levels in Physics and Biology.
Caitlin Lloyd (Year 11) showed perseverance and hard work over 5 years, resulting in tremendous strides in the subject and achieving good GCSE grades in both Maths and Numeracy.
Dewi Williams made tremendous progress over 2 years of the course and achieved an A* with the highest total in the year group.
River Smith received the Harry Andrews Award for an Outstanding Individual Presentation on the interesting topic of "Dungeons and Dragons". River spoke passionately and informatively about this topic, using a wide range of personal experiences to develop their points. River is a valuable school librarian with a love of reading.
Brooklyn Dobbs is a creative writer who enjoys writing for a range of purposes. Brooklyn writes thoughtfully and imaginatively, using a range of ambitious vocabulary and sentence structures. Brroklyn also a valuable school librarian.
Emelia Penfold is a fluent writer who is able to analyze a range of texts, including prose and non-prose. Her English Literature exam mark was one of the highest in her year group. Emelia is able to explore language choices and analyze specific techniques used. She has already made a promising start to her AS studies.
Ellie Gilbert made an extremely brave decision to change schools during Year 11. Not only did she settle in quickly, but she also exceeded her target grades by the highest amount in the cohort.
Faith Easthope received the R.I. Wade Award for A-Level Achievement with 1 A* and 3 A grades.
Alice Jenkins received the Headteacher's Award for GCSE Examination Performance with 10 A* and 2 A grades.
Celebrating cultural and sporting events like the football World Cup in schools can be an incredibly important and valuable experience, as seen in the recent World Cup celebration. Pupils enjoyed watching the matches in the main hall and the leisure centre's sports hall, creating an ecstatic atmosphere. The celebration provided a unique opportunity to promote national pride and identity, as everyone felt patriotic about Wales during the match. By participating in events like these, students can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of their own country's culture and heritage, which can help foster a sense of belonging and unity among students. Additionally, the World Cup celebration provided opportunities for students to develop social and emotional skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Through participating in group activities and events, students can learn how to work effectively with others and develop important skills that can benefit them in all areas of life. They can also learn how to cope with disappointment and failure, as well as how to manage success and achievement. Finally, celebrating cultural and sporting events can be an excellent way to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles among students. By participating in sports events and activities such as football, basketball, or athletics, students can develop a love of physical activity and exercise, which can have long-term health benefits
Personal and social education (PSE) is a critical component of comprehensive education that prepares students for their adult lives. PSE encompasses a wide range of topics related to personal development, relationships, health and well-being, and social issues.
PSE helps students develop self-awareness and self-esteem, which are essential for their personal growth and success in life. It also helps them to understand their emotions and develop coping strategies to manage them effectively.
PSE teaches students how to build positive relationships with others and how to communicate effectively. It helps students to develop social skills, such as empathy and respect, which are essential for healthy relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.
PSE provides students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. It covers a wide range of topics, including physical health, mental health, nutrition, and sex education.
PSE helps students understand and appreciate the diversity of our society, including different cultures, religions, and lifestyles. It also covers important topics such as human rights, environmental issues, and politics, which are essential for responsible citizenship.
In summary, personal and social education is essential for the holistic development of students. It equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their personal and professional lives and to contribute positively to society. During PSE week, Ysgol Heolddu had over 20 specialist visitors supporting year groups in targeted developmental areas such as LLamau, Police Liaison Officers, Force Fitness, Bullies Out, Regener8, Army, School Health Nurse, and Maximise Study skills, to name a few.
Last December, we hosted a Christmas event to help those who were struggling financially during the holiday season. We wanted to extend our warmest thanks to everyone who participated and made the event a great success.
We were happy to offer a comfortable and friendly environment where people could enjoy a cup of tea and a mince pie, all while celebrating the joy of the holiday season with their community. We had a range of items available, including toys, toiletries, gift sets, makeup books, and more. All of these were generously donated by staff and supporters of the school.
At the event, we held a free raffle for a Christmas hamper, and we were thrilled to see so many people enter for a chance to win. We hope that the lucky winner enjoyed the festive hamper.
We want to emphasise that the morning was run by our site team, and it was a discreet and friendly event. We respect the privacy and dignity of every individual who attended, and we hope that we were able to provide some comfort and joy during the holiday season.
Finally, we are pleased to announce that all of the gifts we distributed were either new or excellent-quality used items from loving homes. We are grateful to everyone who donated these gifts, and we know that they brought smiles to many children's faces during the holiday season.
Thank you again for making this event a success. We hope to continue to offer similar events in the future, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
If you would like to donate any uniforms that pupils have outgrown, please hand them in at the main reception. Your donation can help other students who may not have access to appropriate clothing. Additionally, if any parents or guardians would like to access the uniform bank at Heolddu, please let us know. We want to ensure that every student has access to the clothing they need to succeed in their education.
A range of brand-new and high-quality used items are available at our uniform bank, so please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any assistance. Our team is here to help ensure that every student has access to the clothing they need to feel confident and comfortable while at school. Thank you for your support in making this possible.
Congratulations to all our pupils for their outstanding achievements this academic year. Your dedication and hard work have earned you a whopping 40,000 positive ClassCharts points!
We are thrilled to see so many of you making use of your purchase awards before the half-term break. Keep up the great work and continue to strive for excellence in everything you do.
We train our PhD tutors to deliver The Scholars Programme in our partner schools and colleges across the UK. They share their subject knowledge and passion for learning with small groups of pupils aged 8-18. It helps them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to secure a place at a competitive university.
The programme is available to state schools across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is structured around seven tutorials, and pupils also attend a Graduation Event at a partner university to speak with current undergraduates and learn about university life. Fourteen pupils are in one placement, taught in two smaller groups of seven. They work towards completing a challenging final assignment which is marked and moderated using university grades.
We offer placements to schools in autumn, spring and summer terms, with each lasting around eight weeks.
We are thrilled to announce that one of our hard-working pupils, Corey-Lee Breakspear (Year 10), has successfully completed his rugby referee qualification and is now a fully accredited rugby referee! As a passionate rugby player, this is a great accomplishment for Corey-Lee, and we couldn't be more proud of his achievement.
On behalf of the entire school, we would like to congratulate Corey-Lee for his dedication and hard work. We have no doubt that he will make an excellent referee and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Llongyfarchiadau Corey!
Our inclusion pupil voice and parent voice groups met with Hefin David in January to share their views on inclusion support at our school. It was fantastic to hear our pupils and parents speak so honestly and eloquently about our provision and we have made some exciting plans to further improve our School Support Team. We truly value the opinions of our families and are incredibly grateful to have the passionate support of our new ALN Governor Mr David.
Our well-being ambassadors have all been trained and they are supporting KS4 pupils during break and lunch times. They are also going into year 7 registrations and whole school assemblies to support our learners and offer peer-to-peer support! It is amazing to see our learners supporting each other maturely and spreading the Heolddu message that ‘everyone is welcome here!’
We have been incredibly lucky to secure a grant to access a range of interventions and workshops from Regener8 Charity. These workshops are on a range of areas such as ‘Managing Anxiety and Panic Attacks’ ‘Supporting Victims of Domestic Abuse’ ‘Preventing Bullying’ ‘The Dangers of Social Media’ and many more! These sessions are specifically designed for targeted groups of pupils and delivered by expert instructors. While school is a place for learning, we also understand the importance of well-being support to ensure all our learners' emotional needs are met too.
Our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils have been taking part in a Health and Wellbeing Project with the EAS (Education Achievement Service). As part of that project we have registered to participate in the national big bird watch with the RSPB. With the help of the amazing Miss Probert, the students have made their own birdhouses so that these can be put up around the school in their DT classes with Mrs Probert! They look absolutely fabulous! Well done Year 7 and Year 8. If you would like to learn more about the Big Bird Watch please follow the link below.
A group of students, led by Cameron Eastwick in Year 11, organised for Men’s Mental Health Charity ‘Tidy Butt’ to visit the school and deliver a workshop to Year 10 and Year 11 boys. The pupils had the opportunity to meet an ex-international rugby player who shared his story of struggling with mental health and why it is so important to break the stigma around men being open about their feelings. We are so proud of these pupils, especially Cameron, for taking the initiative to organise and arrange this experience. A special thank you to Mrs Poole who also attended the workshop to support our learners, too!
Our school well-being dog is back in the building and the students and staff continue to benefit from his presence. Teddy is a therapy dog and he spends time with a range of students at the school to promote positive well-being alongside therapeutic support sessions.
If you would like your child to benefit from spending time with Teddy please contact Miss Astley at gastley@heolddu.org.
Our newly-renovated science lab provides students with an engaging learning experience. With ample space for conducting experiments and a range of specialist equipment, students will be able to delve deeper into the world of science and enhance their understanding of scientific concepts. The lab is designed to foster collaboration and creativity, allowing students to work together and think critically. Our hope is that this new facility will help our students develop a passion for science and inspire them to pursue careers in related fields.
Our updated facilities provide a comfortable and hygienic space for our students to use. We understand the importance of providing clean and well-maintained facilities for our students, and our new toilet blocks reflect this commitment. With updated fixtures and fittings, as well as increased accessibility, our new facilities are designed to provide a comfortable and stress-free experience for our students.
We have recently enhanced the schoolyard to provide an even more spacious area for pupils to enjoy some refreshing outdoor air. In addition, we have added more benches to the premises, giving students the opportunity to relish the outdoors during both their break-time and lunchtime.
We are excited to announce the opening of our new gender-neutral changing facilities at the leisure centre. By providing gender-neutral changing facilities, we hope to create an environment where everyone can feel comfortable and respected. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on our community.
Our new centre features the same interactive whiteboard as the ones used in almost all of our classrooms. The space utilises comfortable seating for our sixth-form students and also includes a study area and collaborative workspaces, and with every sixth-form student having their own brand-new Chromebook, our students have the resources they need to excel in their studies. Our students can also use the space to take a break from studies using the table tennis table.
On December 16th, pupils from 7CJ took part in a litter pick across the common as part of their humanities lesson. They had been learning about food waste and littering with the Action for Conservation group and were excited to put their lessons into action. Despite the cold weather, the pupils spent 45 minutes collecting discarded food wrappers, plastic bottles, and other items. The highlight of the cleanup was a car bonnet.
The pupils were proud of the impact they made in their community and in the fight against littering. They serve as a reminder that small actions can have a big impact, and that together we can keep our communities clean and healthy. The 7CJ class and Action for Conservation would like to thank everyone who supports their efforts to keep the Commons clean.
Every piece of litter picked up is one less piece that can harm the environment. Keep up the good work, and remember the impact that one person or group can make on their community.
Mr English came second place in the Institut Francais Language Teacher of the Year contest, which is a testament to his hard work and dedication to language teaching. He is a passionate teacher who inspires his students to learn French, creating a positive and encouraging learning environment. He is always willing to help his colleagues, showing his dedication to his profession and the success of his students.
We are very proud of Mr English and confident that he will continue to inspire and motivate his students to become accomplished French speakers. Félicitations, Mr English, on this great achievement!
"I am exceptionally grateful to have been nominated for the French Teacher Award and for the invitation to the ceremony at the Institut Français London as one of three finalists. Visiting the Institut Français in London was a wonderful experience, with a number of inspiring and thought-provoking sessions on teaching French language and culture. We have worked hard to build up the profile of French at Heolddu, and I am very grateful for the recognition of our work. Merci beaucoup!"
- Mr D. English,
Since November, selected Year 9 pupils have been working with MFL mentors from Cardiff University. The pupils have undertaken a six-week project looking at using different languages and linguistic skills. They have examined cultural similarities and differences and expanded their cultural awareness. The pupils have looked at multilingual songs, non-verbal communication, and mythology. They have thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and now have a greater awareness of languages, culture, and where their multilingual skills can take them.
Our Year 12 and 13 French students have been lucky enough to take part in bespoke virtual lectures on the films and literary works we are studying this year. The lectures, carried out by the Languages Faculty at Aberystwyth University, discussed key characters and themes from our chosen works. Students had the chance to ask and answer questions and offer their own insights. As part of the sessions, students also had a chance to learn more about university life and studying a language at university. All students took full advantage of the sessions, and we look forward to continuing our work with Aberystwyth University going forward.
Last term, pupils had the chance to take part in the GCHQ Language Competition. We had six teams enter, who had to crack codes and solve puzzles in a range of different languages from around the world. All teams worked hard to complete as many tasks as they could in the given time to collect as many points as possible. Pupils involved got to use their multilingual skills and see languages at work. The winning team received a prize, and all participants enjoyed a French breakfast with the department. From some of the final scores, I think we definitely have some budding intelligence agents in our mix!
As part of our World Cup celebrations, pupils took part in the Cwpan Cymraeg. Points were awarded to pupils in Years 7-11 for speaking Welsh around the school, and a £15 shopping voucher was awarded to the winner in each year group. Pupils also nominated members of staff who they felt had made an effort to speak Welsh around the school, with every member of staff receiving multiple votes! Da iawn, pawb!
Last term, our Pupil Language Ambassadors organized a range of activities to mark the occasion of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to expand cultural awareness of the countries taking part. Each registration class was randomly allocated a country and had to learn as much about that country as they could. There was a series of competitions for which pupils had to design a bucket hat, find the best facts about their country, and learn some of the national anthems. Staff and pupils decorated their rooms with national flags and other displays. We received many superb entries for each of the competitions and loved seeing the cultural displays around the school. Well done to our winners, 8PPH, and a huge thank you to our ambassadors for their hard work and dedication once again.
Our Textiles students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have been busy experimenting with various techniques and materials to create their own fabrics. Year 7 students have been learning about the Batik process, using wax as a resistant material to explore the connection between colour, emotion, and identity. Year 8 students have been designing their own love spoons inspired by Welsh heritage, while Year 9 students have been challenged to create textiles inspired by insects, using transfer painting techniques.
Our students are developing their skills and producing a variety of outcomes. Year 7 students have been creating interesting patterns and colours through Batik, Year 8 students have been incorporating traditional Welsh symbols and patterns into their designs, and Year 9 students have been experimenting with colours and patterns to capture the beauty of insects.
We can't wait to see the finished pieces, and we're sure they will be amazing. Keep up the great work, Textiles students!
The LRC Library has been a hub of activity since its reopening in October, with 603 books being borrowed by eager students. The school is proud to announce that 7 pupils from years 7, 8, and 9 have earned their Bronze reading award. These pupils have made a significant effort to borrow and read 10 books from the library.
We would also like to extend our congratulations to a student from year 9 who has achieved the Silver award. This individual has shown an exceptional love for reading by borrowing and reading 20 books from the library. This is a remarkable feat that showcases the student's dedication and passion for literature. These achievements are a testament to the hard work and commitment of both the students and the staff at the LRC Library.
The SEREN project in Wales is a Welsh Government-funded initiative that aims to provide support and guidance to highly able and talented students in Wales. SEREN (South East Wales Education Regional Consortium) works with schools and colleges to identify and support students who have the potential to excel in higher education and beyond. The project provides a range of opportunities and activities, such as masterclasses, summer schools, and mentoring, to help these students reach their full potential and pursue their chosen careers.
Pupils from Years 9 and 10 have recently been immersed in The Seren Junior Project, which is a condensed version of The Scholars Programme. The programme aims to give pupils an experience of university learning, and it involved students participating in a lecture given by their PhD tutor, who delivered three talks on the topic of "How is air pollution in the UK changing?" The pupils had to carry out research and analyze data in order to complete their 1500-word essay, which was marked by their PhD tutor, and they were then given a university grade. The pupils not only attended the lectures on this supra-curricular topic but also completed work in their own time. As a school, we are very proud of the results they achieved. The pupils achieved outstanding results ranging from 1st to 3rd class passes.
Alfie Owen
Wiktoria Jablonska
Charlie Pope
Logan Pascoe
Brooke Taylor
Calum John
Gwennan Bartlett
Florent Charron
Grace Harding
Mae Watkins
Dawid Wator
Lucas Ball
The Gilfach Bargoed Community Centre invites you to join us for a warm cup of tea, coffee or soup. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbours, make new friends and have a good chat while enjoying a free, hot drink or a bowl of soup.
Gilfach Bargoed Community Centre believes in fostering a sense of community and togetherness. We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures to come together, socialize, and have fun.
Everyone is welcome, so please spread the word and bring your friends and family. Let's make this a truly inclusive and vibrant community gathering.
Date: Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Time: 10:30 am until 2:30 pm
Location: Gilfach Bargoed Community Centre
We have been working with our Year 8 pupils during tutor time to help them improve their multiplication skills. Pupils have been using blocks to help them count and visualize their times tables, and playing the online game "Times Tables Rock Stars" to increase their multiplication speed.
I am thrilled to report that the program has been a great success so far. The pupils have shown significant improvement in their multiplication skills, and their confidence has grown as a result. The use of blocks has been particularly helpful as it has allowed them to better understand the concepts of multiplication and visualize the relationships between numbers.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our 6th form pupils and staff for their invaluable help in implementing this program. They have been instrumental in the success of the intervention and have been fantastic role models for our Year 8 pupils. Their patience, enthusiasm, and dedication to helping the younger pupils have been truly inspiring, and we are grateful for their support.
At Heolddu Comprehensive School, we are committed to providing our pupils with the best possible education, and we believe that this intervention program is a great example of how we can work together to achieve this. We will continue to monitor the progress of our pupils and provide them with the support they need to succeed.